Clinical Experiences and Observations

Each semester we are required to obtain 150-180 hours of hands-on clinical coverage for our Athletic Training Program. During our sophomore year we rotate sports and preceptors every two weeks to get an understanding for all of the teams. During our junior and senior years we are assigned to one preceptor each semester and whatever sport/profession they are with. This can be a sport at the college or at an offsite location such as a high school team or physical therapy clinic. These hands-on hours reflect game coverage, practice coverage, and clinic coverage in areas such as, but not limited to, injury evaluation, wound care, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and clinical research. Other entries below are from observations and reflect both hands-on and non hands-on experiences. These are in order of most recent events.

Clinical Total: 893:38 Hours

Observation Total: 171:07 Hours

​Fall 2017 (Clinical: Hands-On)

20:00 hours of hands on experience with Dr. William Mark Handy, MD. This general medicine rotation gave me the opportunity to experience general medical family practice and allowed me to work with patients dealing with a variety of patients from orthopedic injuries to autoimmune disorders.

Summer 2017 (Observation: Hands-On)

18:07 hours of hands on experience with pediatric physical therapy in the Smyth County School System: Rich Valley, Saltville, and Chilhowie Elementary Schools. I observed Crickett McClure, PTA.

31:00 hours of hands on experience in physical therapy at Mountain States Outpatient Rehab in Abingdon, Virginia. Patients ranged from pediatric to geriatric and involved orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, and others. I observed under Matt Harris PT, ATC.

48:35 hours of hands on experience with L5/S1 spinal fusion patient (athlete). This was a post op rehab that I had the chance to work with from February to May in researching, creating, and implementing a treatment plan. My preceptor was Chaypin Buchanan, ATC.

Fall 2016

180:00 hours of hands on experience with the Emory & Henry football team. This involved game coverage, practice coverage, and clinic time. My preceptor was Melissa Davis, ATC. Here is a slideshow with some pictures!

Summer 2016 (Observation: Non Hands-On)

During the summer of 2016 I had the unique opportunity to observe at Duke University in the Orthopaedics Department. I observed Dr. Alison Toth, MD. Dr. Toth is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country and is a well known orthopedic researcher. Her specialties include arthroscopic knee surgery, arthroscopic shoulder/rotator cuff surgery, and knee cartilage reconstruction. I also had the opportunity to observe Cody Malley, ATC, LAT, PA-C who is Dr. Toth's physician assistant and also an Athletic Trainer for the United States Women's National Soccer Team. Over the course of two weeks at Duke I had the opportunity to see 17 surgeries and get quality clinic time with patients for consultations for around 84 hours of total exposure. Seeing these surgeries greatly impacted how I carry out my own rehabilitations and the overall experience is something I will cherish and utilize throughout my academic and professional careers. ​Here is a slideshow with some pictures!

Spring 2016 (Observation: Non Hands-On)

Fall 2015 (Clinical: Hands-On)

180:00 hours of hands on experience rotating Emory & Henry sports teams every two weeks including football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, cross country, swimming, and men's and women's basketball. Here is a picture from one of my very first rotations with men's soccer!